JUNIOROPENWHEELTALENT.COM, ONE OF THE TOP SITES TRACKING THE CAREERS OF YOUNG RACERS, NAMES STAR MAZDA COMPETITOR TATIANA CALDERON AN 'UNSUNG HERO'The Junior Open Wheel Talent blog, created in 2008 as a means to help promote drivers and teams in the junior formula ranks, has posted its annual list of 'Unsung Hero' awards for the 2010 season. The top-5 open-wheel 'ladder series' are included, and Colombian racer Tatiana Calderon has been named the 'unsung hero' of the 2010 season of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear.
Additional winners of the JOWT 'Unsung Hero' awards are Nick Andries (who raced in both the Skip Barber National and the Star Mazda Championship during the season), as well as Matthew Powers (USF2000 National Championship), Chris Livengood (F2000 Championship Series) and Dan Clarke (Firestone Indy Lights). JOWT focuses on testing, driver signings, and original analysis of all things junior formula.
Per their observations: Last March, at Sebring International Raceway, Tatiana Calderon jumped right into the deep end of car racing without a hint of reticence. She didn’t have much open-wheel car experience, but she committed to the 2010 season with Juncos Racing; the same team who had been overseeing her development behind the wheel of a go-kart.
While one might argue that the USF2000 National Championship might have been a better choice for her development in 2010, Calderon certainly showcased her ability behind-the-wheel of a Star Mazda car as the season wore on. She qualified a measly 22nd out of 23 cars in her first race. In the race, she finished 20th, three laps shy and almost five seconds-a-lap off eventual winner Tristan Vautier’s fast time.
Graduating straight to Star Mazda was a huge leap. Calderon wouldn’t be discouraged easily, though, and continued to work hard developing her skills. It wasn’t long before her hard work and persistence paid off. The 17-year-old Colombian secured her first top-10 finish in just her third Star Mazda race. She started 16th at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and drove through the field to finish an impressive ninth. In her first six races, her ninth-place result stood as the only top-10 and she had two DNFs; bumping her average finish down to 13.67. Still, she was showing promise and an insatiable hunger to improve each time she was in the cockpit.
She made some big gains at the midpoint of the season, starting with another ninth-place finish during the second race at New Jersey Motorsports Park. She landed inside the top-10 on four occasions in the next five races; including a career best seventh-place finish at Autobahn in late July. Off the track she continued to work hard as well, devoting to a strenuous fitness program under the guidance of Jim Leo and PitFit. The results were evident at the checkered flag. She finished every race during the second half of the season and increased her average-finish by over three spots.
With one full season of Star Mazda competition under her belt, Calderon has made it to the shallow end of the pool. Watch for bright things from the young Colombian in 2011, especially if she returns to Star Mazda Championship for a second season of education.
Name: Tatiana CalderonBorn: Bogota, ColombiaDate of Birth: Mar. 10, 1993
Website: www.tatianacalderon.com
Current Series:Star Mazda Championship
Final Standings: 10th
Average Finish(1st Half of Season): 13.67Average Finish(2nd Half of Season): 10.14
Previous Experience:Started Karting: Age 12Karting Experience: 5 yearsCar Experience: 2-years
Skip Barber Karting Scholarship Radical European Masters- 2009 Star Mazda- 2010 For original analysis and coverage of today's young up-and-coming open-wheel stars, please visit http://www.junioropenwheeltalent.com
